Mount Langshan

Background

Mount Langshan is in Langshan Town, Xinning County, Shaoyang, Hunan, on the eastern section of the Yuecheng Range near the Hunan–Guangxi border. The scenic area covers about 108 km², with a core zone of about 40 km². The main peak, Bajiaozhai, is 818 m high and offers clouds and sunrise views; a Danxia stone beam about 5 m long juts out from the cliff, known as the Dragon Head Incense. Chili Peak is red all over and shaped like an upturned chili pepper, rising about 128 m from its base. Tianyi Alley is about 238.8 m long, with rock walls 80 to 120 m high, narrowing to only about 0.33 m; inside, the temperature stays at 18 to 22°C all year. The Fuyi River flows through the scenic area for about 22 km. Langshan's Danxia landforms were created when red conglomerate was uplifted and then shaped by weathering and running water. It became a national geopark in 2001 and a national scenic area in 2002, was inscribed as part of the China Danxia World Natural Heritage site in 2010, and was rated a national 5A scenic area in August 2016. Monks had already built a hermitage on Bajiaozhai in the Northern Song dynasty. Linjia Village below Chili Peak preserves more than 30 Ming and Qing Yao dwellings, and Yaoshi Village also has a cluster of Ming and Qing houses.

Local customs

• Climb Bajiaozhai at dawn for the sea of clouds and the sunrise
• walk Tianyi Alley and look up at the thin line of sky
• see Chili Peak and Camel Peak in the Chili Peak scenic zone
• drift down the Fuyi River on a bamboo raft past red cliffs
• spread your visit over two or three days.

Travel tips

• The core sights take one to two days, and a fuller visit three. Sightseeing buses link the sights within the scenic area. For tickets and bamboo rafts, follow the official announcements. The rock alleys are cool and slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. Summer is rainy
• check opening arrangements before you go.
• You can reach Langshan by coach or car from Guilin or Shaoyang
• the drive from Guilin takes about 2.5 hours and from Changsha about 4.5 hours. By high-speed train, go to Xinning Station and take the shuttle bus, about 40 minutes to the scenic area. April to May and October to November are the best seasons
• the sea of clouds at Bajiaozhai is most likely early in the morning, and Tianyi Alley is pleasantly cool in summer.